Concerns voiced about cutting bus service to Creekwood

Published: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 4:28 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 4:28 p.m.

The promise of a day without fares wasn't enough to keep some Wave Transit riders and board members from voicing concerns about new bus routes at Thursday's board of directors meeting.

Of particular concern was the impact removing service from the Creekwood community could have on residents.

"I know for a fact by riding that route there that you have a lot of elderly people that are really used to that bus, and I know they can't walk to Princess Place and a lot of them are on fixed income and can't pay the $3 to take paratransit," said Chris Hawkins, a Wave board member.

Wave has four stops in the Creekwood neighborhood and two nearby, but all six will be eliminated when the new routes go into effect on Feb. 3.

Part of the reason the Creekwood stops were removed was because many riders walk to the Princess Place stop to catch the bus.

"I'm very concerned about (Creekwood). That's the area we're going to watch the closest, without a doubt," said Albert Eby, Wave's executive director.

Eby added he expected to hear more feedback after the new routes went into effect and would direct the staff to begin putting a plan together to restore service to the neighborhood in case there's demand for it.

If the staff changes more than 20 percent of a route, it would need approval from the board, but if it is less than 20 percent the planning committee only needs to sign off on them.

There is precedent for Wave returning service to an area. In 2008, the last time Wave modified its routes, service was removed from the Long Leaf Park area.

After the public reacted negatively to the changes, service was restored.

"Now we go in there pretty extensively, so it's a good example of how we reacted to the change pretty quickly," Eby said.

While the new stops remove service to Creekwood, they service to Carolina Beach and more stops in Leland.

The same day the routes change, average fare for a bus ticket will bump from $1.50 to $2. Tickets for Cape Fear Community College students, the handicapped and senior riders will be $1 instead of 75 cents.

But to give riders a day to adjust to the system, Wave's board unanimously agreed to have Feb. 4, the first business day after the changes take effect, be a free fare day for all riders.

"There is going to be confusion, and we feel that's the least we can do on that one day, to have free fare day, advertise it, and that puts us in a better position as we move forward," said Henry Adams, vice chairman of the board.

Riders agreed that the free fare day might help cushion the impact of the route changes.

"I'm sure if someone's inconvenienced by the new routes, a free ride makes up for it a little bit," said Mac Williams, a frequent Wave Transit rider.

Allegro Sparks, another Wave customer, said she's concerned that the buses will pass each stop once every hour instead of every half-hour.

"That's kind of distressing because there's all these scheduling problems, and if you miss one you're standing out in the heat and the cold for a solid hour or maybe more than an hour," Sparks said.

Despite improved service in some places, Sparks and other riders hope the agency closely monitors the new stops.

"I just hope that they'll be watching, keeping a good eye on whether it's working," Sparks said. "I think there'll probably be a big public outcry because I don't think many people know."

<p>The promise of a day without fares wasn't enough to keep some <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9963"><b>Wave Transit</b></a> riders and board members from voicing concerns about new bus routes at Thursday's board of directors meeting.</p><p>Of particular concern was the impact removing service from the Creekwood community could have on residents.</p><p>"I know for a fact by riding that route there that you have a lot of elderly people that are really used to that bus, and I know they can't walk to Princess Place and a lot of them are on fixed income and can't pay the $3 to take paratransit," said Chris Hawkins, a Wave board member.</p><p>Wave has four stops in the Creekwood neighborhood and two nearby, but all six will be eliminated when the new routes go into effect on Feb. 3.</p><p>Part of the reason the Creekwood stops were removed was because many riders walk to the Princess Place stop to catch the bus.</p><p>"I'm very concerned about (Creekwood). That's the area we're going to watch the closest, without a doubt," said Albert Eby, Wave's executive director.</p><p>Eby added he expected to hear more feedback after the new routes went into effect and would direct the staff to begin putting a plan together to restore service to the neighborhood in case there's demand for it.</p><p>If the staff changes more than 20 percent of a route, it would need approval from the board, but if it is less than 20 percent the planning committee only needs to sign off on them.</p><p>There is precedent for Wave returning service to an area. In 2008, the last time Wave modified its routes, service was removed from the Long Leaf Park area.</p><p>After the public reacted negatively to the changes, service was restored.</p><p>"Now we go in there pretty extensively, so it's a good example of how we reacted to the change pretty quickly," Eby said.</p><p>While the new stops remove service to Creekwood, they service to Carolina Beach and more stops in <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9971"><b>Leland</b></a>.</p><p>The same day the routes change, average fare for a bus ticket will bump from $1.50 to $2. Tickets for <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9937"><b>Cape Fear Community College</b></a> students, the handicapped and senior riders will be $1 instead of 75 cents.</p><p>But to give riders a day to adjust to the system, Wave's board unanimously agreed to have Feb. 4, the first business day after the changes take effect, be a free fare day for all riders.</p><p>"There is going to be confusion, and we feel that's the least we can do on that one day, to have free fare day, advertise it, and that puts us in a better position as we move forward," said Henry Adams, vice chairman of the board.</p><p>Riders agreed that the free fare day might help cushion the impact of the route changes.</p><p>"I'm sure if someone's inconvenienced by the new routes, a free ride makes up for it a little bit," said Mac Williams, a frequent Wave Transit rider.</p><p>Allegro Sparks, another Wave customer, said she's concerned that the buses will pass each stop once every hour instead of every half-hour.</p><p>"That's kind of distressing because there's all these scheduling problems, and if you miss one you're standing out in the heat and the cold for a solid hour or maybe more than an hour," Sparks said.</p><p>Despite improved service in some places, Sparks and other riders hope the agency closely monitors the new stops.</p><p>"I just hope that they'll be watching, keeping a good eye on whether it's working," Sparks said. "I think there'll probably be a big public outcry because I don't think many people know."</p><p><i>Adam Wagner: 343-2096</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @adamwagner1990</i></p>